Tap handle



sept. s, 1942. J. w. HAU-:Y 2,295,468

TAP HANDLE l Filed Jan. 6, 1940 2 Shets-Sheet l @maw Patented Sept. 8, 1942 TAP HANDLE John W. Haley, Bristol, R. I., assignor to Perfec-4 tion Sales Corporation of New England,

Cranston, It. I., a corporation of Rhode Island Appucaomranuary c, 194'0, serial No. 312,713

5Claims.

My invention relates to improvements in tap handles for beer tap valves and is an improvement on the type of tap valve handle shown in Patent No. 2,046,325 for Liquid dispensing device issued to me July 7, 1936.

Unquestionably a perfectly spherical tap hand1e`is the most convenient shape for a beverage dispenser or barkeeper to use in dispensing beer or other beverage from a bar or counter. I have shown in said patent heretofore referred to how to incorporate an advertising sign in said tap handle 'without detracting seriously :from` said perfectly spherical shape andY in such a manner that the advertising plate or member incorporated therein will not cut the barkeepers or other beverage dispensers hand.

The present invention relates to improvements on the device shown in said application by pro-A viding an advertising sign which will tend to fill out said sphere and in my preferred embodiment substantially complete the sphere for ease of operation by the .barkeeper or other beverage dispenser andl one in which the advertising. characters or insignia therein may be readily observable from in front of substantially thev entire length of the Ibar. For this purpose I provide a transparent sign member having a convex outer surface and a rear surface having the edge on the rearmost portion thereof, said rear surface havtype of such a member is the meniscus concavoconvex lens with both the concave rear and the convex front surfaces being spherical when the angle of refraction and st'ereoptic` effect may be increased and regulated in the desired degree, although it is obvious that any suitable type of outer convex surface may be employed and any suitable type of plane or cancave inner surface the base and I have also discovered that pleasingY effects involving substantially the same degrees 0f refraction to produce the illusion ofconvexedly transparent images on the outer surface of the transparent member may be produced if the transparent member is mountedl on a translucent light diffusing surface on said base and a light source is mounted in rear of said light diusing ing depressions of the shape of advertising insurface. I'preferably employ a similar type of outer convex surface of said transparent memiber in the same degreeof convexity as said outer surface, so that substantially all of said indicia may be observed when viewed from substantially any direction in front of said base, more particularly if said outer convex surface be spheri- 45.

cally convex. I have found in practice that such signs can be read at angles approaching 90 :from the perpendicular to the plane of said member, thus increasing largely the visibllity'of such signs and the impression they make on anyone viewing them. The outer convex surface appears to refract the light rays in a greater degree than if a plane outer surface :be employed, which refraction may be increased by concaving the inner .handle member as shown in my prior patent aforesaid having a neck for mounting on the tap .valve operating means 'and a partially spherical gripping portion or base having a flat portion at the front thereof, preferably inclined upwardly sfromthe vertical, of the general type shown in my aforesaid patent and I mount my improved ltransparent sign member on said flat portion in a suitable manner, Eand preferably provide an outer surface on said transparent member of similar spherical convexity to that of lsaid gripping portion to substantially complete said sphere 'for ease' of operation by the barkeeper or other beverage dispenser, for this (puripOse, the transparent member being circular and preferably coinciding with the circular plane surface formed by said nat portion on said gripping portion.

'I'he improved transparent member may be mounted in place of the plate shown in said prior patent in similar fashion thereto, 'but as said transparent member has in any`event, an outer convex surface, it will tend to ll out said sphere and an opaque reflecting surface may be surface of said transparent member. The ideal either provided on said flat portion or between said nat portion and transparent member as shown. l

A further feature of my'invention is to provide a device in which light may be refractedV outwardly through a light diffusing surface on said gripping member comprising said fiat portion to provide a more startling advertisingenect by a lighted tap handle. It is apparent that if the tap handle be made hollow it provides an ideal shaped mounting member for said light behind said light diffusing ilat surface and if desired the interior of the partially spherical gripping portion may be silvered to provide in addition a concave reflector for the light source.

These and such other `objects of my invention as may hereinafter appear will be best understood from a description of the accompanying drawings, which illustrate two embodiments thereof.

In the drawings, Fig. 1 is a front elevation of an illuminated tap handle constructed in accordance with my invention.

Fig. 2 is a side elevation thereof.

Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view thereof, with a portion only of the gripping member being shown in elevation.

Fig. 4 is a rear elevational view of the transparent member Aof my invention provided with a translucent light diiusing surface attached thereto and broken away for the purpose of illustrating the depressions extending forwardly in said transparent member from the rear surface thereof.

Fig. 5 is a cross sectional view of said transparent member taken along the line 5-5 of Fig. 4,

Fig. 6 is a perspective: View of an alternative embodiment of my invention employing an opaque background on the flat portion of the gripping member on which the transparent 'member is mounted and with .the outer surface of the transparent member of less convexity than to substantially complete said sphere.

Fig. 'I is a cross sectional view of the transparent member employed in the embodiment shown in Fig. 6.

In the drawings, wherein like characters of reference indicate like parts throughout, I0 `and I8' generally indicate embodiments of tap handles constructed in accordance with my invention.

In the description when referring to the parts of the embodiment shown in Figs. 1-5, I will employ unprimed reference characters and when referring to similar parts in the embodiment shown in Figs. 6 and 7 I will employ primed reference characters.

The tap valve handle I0 or Ill', in both embodiments includes, a seat I 5 or I5 having a preferably integral hollow neck portion 8 or 8 projecting upwardly therefrom for mounting on the tap valve operating means as shown in my said prior patent. I employ a partially spherical base or gripping and display portion I 2 or I2', preferably integrally mounted on said neck 8 or 8. The seat I5 or I5' is preferably provided with the central bolt receiving socket projecting upwardly therein for screwing on a bolt projecting from the tap valve operating means as shown in said patent. The partially spherical gripping and display portion I2 or I2 is preferably integral with said neck 8 or 8' and includes an at least hemi-spherical portion I I or I I' on the rear thereof for operative gripping in the palm of the hand or by the fingers and having the flat portion I3 or I3' at the front thereof, preferably tilted upwardly relative to the vertical as shown in said patent and being of substantially circular shape,

- In the embodiment shown in Figs. 1-5, said fiat portion I I may be provided with a translucent light dldusing surface I4, or with the opaque light'I diffusing surface I4' as shown in Figs. 6 and My invention includes a transparent member I8 or I8' for use in advertising signs having a convex outer surface I8 or I8 and a rear surface 20 or 20' having the edge 22 or 22' thereof on the rearmost portion thereof. Said rear surface 2l or 2l' is provided with the depressions 24 or 24' of the shape ofadvertising insignia z8 or 28' extending forwardly therein and a coating 28 or 28' of coloring matter applied to the bottoms of said depressions defining said insignia. Said transparent member I6 or I6' may be made of any suitable transparent material such as glass, transparent resin, Lucite, etcl A main feature of my invention comprises this transparent sign member I6 or I6' having a convex outer surface I8 or Il' and a rear surface 20 or 20' having the edge 22 or 22' thereof on the rearmost portion thereof, with said rear surface provided with said depressions 24 or 24 and the coatings 26 or 28' of coloring matter applied to the bottoms of said depressions defining said insignia. I have discovered that if said outer surface of the transparent member be made of a convex shape, that when the 'transparent member I6 or I6 is viewed from in front, said advertising insignia provided by the coatings 26 or 28' of coloring matter at the bottoms of said depressions 24 or 24' will appear refracted as the advertising insignia 28 or 28' with a convex curvature similar in convexity to that of the convex outer surface I8 or I8' from substantially the outer convex surface I8 or I8 of said transparent member I6 or I6' so that substantially all of said advertising indicia may be observable when viewed from substantially any direction in front of said base as shown in Figs. 2 and6. The coating 2i or 28' may consist of any suitable type of paint, lacquer, or other coloring matter suitably colored by pigment or otherwise.

The rear surface 20 or 20' of said transparent member I8 or I6' may be plane as the rear surface 20 of the embodiment shown in Figs. 1-6.

4I have discovered that-by making the outer surface convex that the angle of refraction is increased to make the advertising matter or indicia 28 or 28 appear refracted from the outer convex surface I8 or I8'. Theangle or refraction, however, of the light rays and hence stereoptic eIi'ect may be further increased if the rear surface 2l' is concaved in addition, as in the embodiment shown inFigs. 6 and 7.

In the preferred embodiments shown, the outer surface I8 or I8 is preferably spherically convexed in both embodiments to provide a solid spherical sector of the type commonly known as a lens, although my invention may be employed on lenses, other than of true solid spherical sector shape. In the embodiment shown in Figs. 6 and 7 the rear surface 2li' also comprises a partially spherical concavity, preferably with a different degree of curvature from that of the outer surface I8', the relative degrees of curvature and hence convexity and concavity of the respective surfaces I8' and 20' varying the refractory power and hence stereoptic effect of the transparent member I8 or I8'. The transparent member Il or I6' is preferably mounted in any suitable manner on-the base I2 or I2. In the embodiment shown in Figs. 6 and 7, the base I2' is provided with an opaque portion I4' over and to which the transparent member is suitably mounted.. In the embodiment shown in Figs. 1-5, the transparent member I6 mounted over a suitable translucent more attention. In this embodiment, the interior' of the base or gripping portion I2 is preferably ,hollow as shown and the light source 30 comprises an electric light bulb suitably mounted ln the hollow interior I3 of said gripping portion I2, and in order that the light source itself may not be reflected and refracted through the transparent member I6 the translucent light diffusing surface I4 is interposed between said. light source 38'and said transparent member I6. The interior of the hollow partially spherical portion may be suitably silvered, or otherwise mirrored a's at 34 to provide a concave reflecting surface to reflect and converge the rays thereof through said light di'using surface I4 and through said transparent member I6, for this purpose the light source 30 being mounted on a suitable base in said neck 8 and suitably lighted from a suitable source 'of electricity by power provided through the wires 38 projecting downwardly through said neck 8 and out through said seat I5. In both embodiments the circular edge of the transparent member preferably coincides with the Acircular edge of the at portion I4 of said base or gripping portion I2 so as to tend to fll out a perfect sphere convexity than that of the gripping portion II',

being only of sufficient convexity to make the refracted illusion of the advertising indicia observable from up and down the length of the bar as shown in Fig. 6.

My invention provides satisfactory qualities, even if the light source and translucent light diffusing portion I4 be omitted 'and the translucent portion be replaced by a suitable opaque reflecting background I4', the advertising insignia being readily observable vin convex shape as appearing from the outer convex surface I8' of said transparent member, as shown in Fig. 6, the outside light reflected by said opaque surface I4' and refracted through said transparent mem- `ber I6', being suiicient to bring out the advertising insignia 28' in the desired fashion, when observed from in front of substantially the entire length of the bar as illustrated in Figs. 2 and 6.

As stated, however, in the embodiment shown in Figs; 1-5, I produce substantially the same eiect with an additional source of light behind it and the advertising effect is somewhat more startling.

A further feature of my invention comprises the increasing of the perspective effect produced by the advertising letters or insignia provided by the depressions 24 or 24' and the coloring matter 26 or 26' on the bottoms thereof. If the walls 40 or 40' of said depressions are not painted they may refract a silvery sheen to the edges of the advertising insignia.

I may, however, in accordance with my invention provide certain parallel side walls 42 or 42' of-.said depressions inclined 4in substantially a single direction and if coatings of coloring matter 44 or 44 of a different shade from that of the coatings of coloring matter 26 or 26in the bottoms of said depressions be applied to said inclined side walls 42 or 42', said differently shaded inclined side walls of said advertising insignia in said depressions 24 or 24' will thus provide aV perspective shading effect increasing the perspective effect and reality of the illusion of making said advertising insignia appear refracted from substantially the outer convex surface of said transparent member and provided, when so refracted, with an exaggerated perspec-` tive effect of depth as shown in Figs. 2 and 6. For ease of. mounting the transparent member I6 `or I6' over the flat portion' I4 or I4' of said gripping portion I2 or I2' it may be provided with the spring ring 5D or 50'. The transparent memberl or I 6' or the spring ring 50 or 50' may be mounted over the flat portion I4 or I`4' as shown in said prior patent, or in any suitable manner. If the spring ring 50' be omitted, the flat opaque light reflecting surface I4' may comprise an integral surface of said gripping portion I2' or the surface I4' of a separate member such as an opaque light reflecting Iplate of similar configuration and similarly at' tached to said gripping portion as said transparent plate I4 is attached to said gripping Dortion I2.

It is apparent therefore that I have provided a novel type of tap,` handle constructed to dis-l play advertising matter in a startling and novel fashion to have it observable from in front of substantially the entire length of the bar or other dispensing counter with the advantages explained above.

It is understood that my invention is not limited to vthe Aspecific embodiments shown and that various deviations may be made therefrom without departing from the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. A tap handle for a bar tap valve, comprising, in combination, a member having a neck for `mounting on the tap valve operating means and a gripping portion having a flat opaque ligllt reflecting surface at the front thereof and a transparent member having a convex outer surface and a rear surface having the edge thereof on theA rearmost portion thereof mounted on said fiat portion, saidv rear surface having depressions of the shape of advertising insignia extending forwardly therein and a coating of coloring matter applied to the bottoms of said depressions defining said insignia, whereby all said advertising insignia may appear refracted from substantially the outer convex surface of said vtransparent member so that substantially all of said identifying indicia may be observable from in front of substantially the entire length of the bar.

2. A hollow tap handle for a bar tap valve, comprising, in combination, a member havinga hollowI neck for mounting on the tap valve operating means and a partially spherical gripping portion having a flat substantially circular light diffusing surface at the front thereof and a transparent member having a convex outer surface and a rear surface having the edge thereof on the rearmost portion thereof mounted on said flat portion to have the edge thereof substantially in alignment with the edge of said flat portion ping in the palm of the hand, said rear surfacehaving depressions of the shape of advertising insignia. extending forwardly therein, a coating.

of coloring matter applied to the bottoms of said depressions defining said insignia and an electric light bulb mounted in the hollow interior of said gripping portion with the terminals thereof extending downwardly through said neck, whereby all said advertising insignia may appear refracted from substantially the outer convex 4surface of said transparentV member so that substantially all of said identifying indicia may be observable from in front of substantially the entire length of the bar.

3. A tap handle for a bar tap valve, comprising, in combination, a member having a neck for mounting on the tap valve operating means vand a partially spherical gripping portion having a ilat portion at the front thereof and a transparent member having a convex outer surface and a rear surface having the edge thereof on the rearmost portion thereof mounted on said at portion to have the edge thereof substantially in alignment with the edge of said ilat portion and its convex outer portion substantially spherical to complete said sphere for ease of gripping in the palm of the hand. said rear surface having depressions of the shape of advertising insignia extending forwardly therein and a coating of rcoloring matter applied t the bottom of said depressions defining said insignia, whereby all said advertising insignia may appear refracted from substantially the outer convex surface of said transparent member so that subrear surface having depressions of the shape of advertising insignia extending forwardly therein,

said depressions having. certain parallel side walls thereof inclined in substantially a single direction, a coating of coloring matter applied to the bottom of said depressions defining said insignia and a coating of coloring matter of a different shade applied to said inclined side walls. whereby all said advertising insignia may appear retracted from substantially the outer convex surface of said transparent member so that substantially all of said identifying indicia may be observable from in front of substantially the entire length of thebar with said differently shaded side walls thereof providing a perspective shading effect. Y

5. A tap handle for a bar tap valve, comprising, in combination, a member having a neck' for mounting on the tap valve operating means and a partially spherical gripping portion having a ilat portion at thefront thereof and a transparent member having a convex outer surface and a rear surface having the edge thereof on the rearmost portionkthereof mounted on said flat portion to have the edge thereof substantially in alignment with the edge of said nat portion and its convex outer portion substantially spherical to complete said sphere for ease of gripping in the palm of the hand, said rea surface having depressions of the shape of advertising insignia extending forwardly therein, said depressions having certain parallel side walls thereof inclined in substantially a single direction, a coating of coloring matter applied to the bottoms of said depressions defining said insignia and a coating of coloring matter of a different shade applied to said inclined side walls, whereby all said advertising insignia may appear refracted from substantially the outer convex surface ofsaid transparent member so that substantially all of said identifying indicia may be' 

